Container



O 1967 YUlCHl NAKATA CONTAINER Filed Aug. 10, 1964 EIHH M 7 N 5 w 1 Yu/m/ A AKAM AGE/v7: 2-

United States Patent Ofiice 3,348,716 Patented Oct. 24, 1967 3,348,716 CONTAINER Yuichi Nakata, 9238 Higaski-Kaigan, Shigasaki-shi, Kanagawa-ken, Japan Filed Aug. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 388,434 1 Claim. (Cl. 2156) This invention relates to a container, and more particularly to a container having a plurality of separable subdivisions.

In the preparation of formulae for feeding infants dry materials, such as powdered milk, must be measured and then dissolved in water or other liquid. Under some conditions measurement and storage is a problem. Furthermore, amounts vary with the age of the infant.

With this invention, dry materials for several feedings can be measured at one time and stored until needed.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a container having means for storing dry materials for several infant feeding formulae.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a plurality of axially aligned generally cylindrical containers connected into a single unit and having a funnel connected to one end of the assembly.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a plurality of axially aligned generally cylindrical containers threadedly united into a unit with an inverted funnel at one end threadedly connected to the end container.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a container assembly consistingof a plurality of generally cylindrical container units connected together in axial alignment, in which the bottom of a container forms the cover for that one next below, and in which an inverted funnel forms a cover for the topmost container, there being a cap for the neck of the funnel.

The above and other objects will become clear as the following specification progresses. This specification taken with the accompanying drawings forms a complete disclosure of this invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of the container assembly;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section, and

FIG. 3 is a top view.

Numeral represents the container assembly of this invention which consists of a plurality of generally cylindrical containers 11, 12 and 13, topped by an inverted funnel 14 which a neck 15 which has a cap 16 mounted thereon.

Each container 11, 12 and 13 has a bottom 17 and a downwardly extending flange or edge 18 having interior threads 19. Each flange 18 terminates in a head 20'. The upper edge of each section is reduced in thickness as at 21,

forming a shoulder 22 and is provided with exterior threads 23.

It can be readily seen that when the containers 11, 12 and 13 are assembled, the bottom of an upper container, as 12, forms the cover for another, as 11. The inverted funnel 14 with its cap 16 joins a cover for the uppermost container. Each container 11, 12, 13 is provided interiorly with a series of steps 24, 25, 26 and 27 on the inner wall thereof to act as indicia for measuring materials. The containers 11, 12, 13 and the funnel 14 and cap 16 are preferably made of suitable plastic material in order not to be easily broken.

In use, a suitable number of individual containers is provided, each being supplied With the proper amount of dry materials, and the several are connected into an axially extending assembly 10, which is capped by the funnel 14 and its cap 16. When a formula is to be prepared, the funnel is removed and the cap taken off the funnel is then used as an aid for placing the dry materials from the uppermost container, in a nursing bottle or other container for mixing. The funnel and its cap may then be reassembled, or the emptied container 13 may be placed below container 11, and the funnel 14 and its cap 16 may be connected to the container 12. In assembly, the heads 20 engage shoulders 22 to form a tight seal.

I claim:

A multi-unit container for feeding infants comprising a plurality of stacked similar containers, each container comprising a one piece member formed with an integral wall and bottom, the upper and lower edges of the wall being threaded, the bottom edge of one container being threaded to the upper edge of another container, with the lower end of the bottom edge being formed with a head portion which is threaded into close contact with a shoulder portion of the upper edge of the next lower container to provide a fluid tight joint therewith, and a funnel threaded to the upper edge of the uppermost container in the stack, each of said units being threaded to the lower end of the stack as it is used and the funnel being threaded to the upper unit for dispensing the contents thereof whereby the stackable units can be reused.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 880,082 2/ 1908 Kendrick.

FOREIGN PATENTS 372 1898 Great Britain.

418,715 10/1934 Great Britain.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner. E. J. EARLS, Assistant Examiner. 

